Hexes and curses, I could feel Robin’s hard-on rubbing against me. I imagined that it was only natural because he was lying so close. Yet he’d never clutched me so tightly before, or allowed me to feel his desire in this way.
Robin’s expression, however, had become stormy, and he was shivering. Was he cold? “Naturally they hit my head but not so hard that I can’t see you’re using that as a distraction. Funny, you don’t appear to have wings.”
“Awfully observant of you.”
“Yet you just fell from the sky.”
Robin had witnessed my near death. His shaking wasn’t cold but fear…for me.
Or possibly anger, whoops.
Robin’s fingers bit into my shoulders, as if he’d lose me as soon as he let go. When he rested his forehead against mine, I understood.
Because tonight, I’d lose him.
“I just…” How did I explain that I’d prayed to escape my marriage to Titus at the Enchanted Ball? “…had a little disagreement with Hecate.”
Robin snorted. “You know, there aren’t many who’d admit so casually to quarrels with a goddess.”
“Ah, but then I am Blessedly Charmed.”
When Robin drew back to look at me, his gaze was troubled. “I’m aware.”
Mage’s balls, did he already know about my fiancé?
I gazed at Robin’s lush lips, wishing that I could simply pull him to me and kiss him, taking the pleasure that I’d dreamed about since I was young. But what if that changed the only friendship I’d ever had, wrecking it? Did Robin deserve me stealing his own first experiences, when I was destined to wed another?
When Robin’s strong finger traced my grazed cheek, I jolted with the electric intimacy of his touch. In turn, I reached to cup his swollen eye, wishing that I could kiss away the bruise. If he’d only allow it, my magic could vanish his pain. But he never let me risk my mother discovering that I’d healed him.
How many years had he been protecting me now?
Robin’s breath gusted against my lips. I breathed in his blackberry scent like life, joy, and every moment of snatched, forbidden freedom from the Bird Turret that’d been my gilded cage: laughing in the branches of Hecate’s Tree, swimming naked in the lake at night, or walking the wards at the edges of the estate like we truly could break them and escape.
Why in Hecate’s name hadn’t I realized that there wouldn’t be a way to take flight, even falling from the air as a bird with no wings?
When Robin tumbled to the side, sprawling on his elbow and studying me, I missed the warmth of his touch and the naughty feel of his prick against me.
What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. I was awfully certain that was one of the Principal’s Mottos.
Robin tucked his finger absentmindedly under my pearl choker. I bit back the gasp at his touch against my sensitive skin. “When I was tiny, mama would tell me tales at bedtime of the ghosts that she’d seen that day.”
“Are you certain that the Head Coven didn’t commend her with the Traumatizing Your Child for Life Award?” I crossed my legs.
Robin nudged my shoulder. “Surely, they’d already granted it to your mother.”
I rolled my eyes. “How amusing. Also, most likely.”
“It was mama’s power to see the dead.” Robin traced his finger along each pearl, slipping his finger beneath to caress the skin. Black cats, he was barely touching me, and I was aflame. “I once played a game, where I whispered to my tin soldiers as if I was communing with the dead because I wanted so much to be like her. She nearly shrieked the place down because she was terrified that I’d inherited her gift and so become a mage.”
I smirked. “Sweet irony.” When his fingers stopped stroking my choker to touch my cheek, I struggled not to demand that they get back to work for the love of Hecate. Instead, I controlled myself with decidedly impressive restraint and asked, “Did you ever inherit it? Have you been hiding…?”
How could I ask if he was hiding anything, when I hadn’t admitted to him yet that I’d be wed tonight?
Robin huffed. “When do I hide anything from you? If I have the talent, it hasn’t shown itself yet. Do you wish to know what shocks me about ghosts?” I leaned closer. “Mama told me that whatever is keeping them here means that they’re always craving. Eternally craving.”
My stomach flipped. “I don’t understand.”
His brow furrowed, as he whispered, “I do.”
Then he bit his lip, looking away quickly. My magic pulsed above our heads as if in warning, but when I glanced around, the day was quiet.
“Wait for me,” Robin breathed.
“Always,” I grinned.
In a burst of glitter, Robin transformed into a red squirrel. Before he could escape, I clutched him by his tail and snuggled him like I always wanted to…or as if he was one of my china dolls. He chattered but still relaxed, allowing himself to be petted. He was soft, and his bushy tail wrapped around my arm like ivy, as if he never wanted to let go either. It was only in this form that he ever truly allowed himself to love me.
He looked up at me, rubbing his tufted ears against my hand with a soft chuk chuk.
I snickered. “Mr Tailsy has important business.”
Robin twisted, before rubbing his large tail over my face, and I spluttered.
My familiars cawed, hopping towards Robin with a malicious glint in their eyes.
“Time to catch the rat,” Flair taunted.
Flair wasn’t jealous, was he?
Robin squeaked and scampered for Hecate’s Tree. My magic drew back on instinct to allow him free, and he skittered up the yew’s trunk and into its branches.
I threw myself over the crows, before they could take flight after Robin.
“Are you insane?” I hollered. “You’re a little squirrel. What could Hecate do to you if she…?”
Don’t let him be hurt because of me.
Robin reappeared dragging a book between his puffy cheeks. I blinked.
What in the ever-witching heavens…?
I sat up, and my familiars shot me aggrieved looks, ruffling their feathers, before jumping onto my shoulders and holding on with their scaly feet like I was a statue. I winced, as their claws sank into my skin through the velvet of my dress.
Were all familiars this possessive?
Robin nudged the book with his nose, and it fell into my lap. Then he took a death leap, and I caught him. I stared down into his cute face in shock.
The adorable…risk obsessed…bastard who I loved.
I shook the squirrel who hung between my shaking hands. “You’re lucky that you’re in Mr Tailsy form right now. Even so, your fluffy behind deserves a spanking for that stunt. What if I hadn’t caught you? What if…”
Breathe…in and out…breathe…
Robin transformed into human form on my lap with his legs straddling me.
My familiars flew away to settle amongst the foxgloves.
“He’s dying for want of a fuck,” Flair grumbled. “Put both of yourselves out of your misery.”
“He does appear painfully hard in those tight trousers.” Echo tilted his head.
“A thousand apologies.” Robin hunched his shoulders. “You know what I’m like. I didn’t think…”
When his lips quirked, I tickled his neck where he’d always been weakest to the attack in retaliation, and he chuckled. “What?”